Various Artists / American Song-Poem, the
Album:American Song-Poem, the Collection:General
Artist:Various Artists Added:Nov 2003
Label:Bar/None Records 

A-File Activity
Add Date:2003-12-08 Pull Date:2004-02-09 
Week Ending:Jan 4Dec 28Dec 21Dec 14
Airplays:1243

Recent Airplay
1.Dec 24, 2022:Buford J. Sharkley Presents: As Told to Hervey Okkles
Santa Claus Goes Modern
4.Dec 16, 2009:Brownian Motion
Daddy, Is Santa Really Six F
2.Dec 21, 2011:Brownian Motion
Daddy, Is Santa Really Six F, Santa Came on a Nuclear Miss
5.Dec 12, 2009:lost and found
Daddy, Is Santa Really Six F
3.Dec 23, 2009:Brownian Motion
Santa Came on a Nuclear Miss, Santa Fix My Toys for Christ
6.Dec 12, 2007:Brownian Motion
Daddy, Is Santa Really Six F

Album Review
Your Imaginary Friend
Reviewed 2003-12-08 
“Everyone knows that the holidays can seem like a surreal psychodrama. Song-poem writers are just a little more upfront about it”. So says the liner notes of the latest “Song Poem” anthology released by Bar None records, this one covering Christmas/Holiday themed works. Oh dear god! If you don’t know, “song-poems” are compositions performed by top flight studio musicians using lyrics provided by paying customers. The customer received a few copies on vinyl singles and (empty) promises of fame and fortune. A thing of the past, song-poems go way back; most of these sound late 60’s, 70’s. Indeed, since the master tapes are long gone, these recordings were lifted from scratchy original vinyl found in people’s attics and at flea markets. Cheesy, strange, twisted, just plain wrong. What do you expect? Most unnerving is how the high quality of musicianship is juxtaposed with the abysmal songwriting. Downright disturbing. Merry Christmas!!

1) cheesy casino organ pop, clear female vocs, rhymes “smile” with “nuclear missile”. Say no more
2) slightly loungy pop, pretty fem vocs
3) strange 60’s garage pop feel, almost a Donovan quality about the vocs
4) early 70’s pop, w/ string arrangements even
5) disco xmass! Say no more
6) sentimental feel, male vocs
7) decidedly children’s song feel w/ bright fem vocs and bounce
8) another childlike melody w/ male lead/fem backup vocs, really stupid
9) vaudeville piano feel, lyrics enter @1:00, “chipmunk” harmonies, yeesh
10) this could pass for a gum commercial instead of a Christmas song, smarmy lounge organ and rich sultry female harmonies
11) title track- slightly off-key fem vocs, abysmal lyrics, ouch ouch OUCH!!! The musicians mustve been wasted to slog through this
12) piano ballad, religious, pitiful
13) 70’s pop flare, voice over, fem vocs, puh-leeze! “next of kind-er”?!?
14) god this is terrible- a 60’s type crooning ballad where the music is flawless, but the lyricist mustve been missing a chromosome
15) childlike waltz, santa theme
16) Christmas polka! Ay yi yi…
17) a song about abusing your children through deprivation of working toys- “mom and dad’ trade off vocals, childlike music
18) cool funk-kay soulful disco, fem vocs
19) covered by Yo La Tengo- santa in a space ship
20) romantic attempt fails (surprised?), New Year theme
21) sleighbells, 60’s pop, fem vocs

Track Listing
 ArtistTrack Name
1.Heather NoelSanta Came on a Nuclear Miss
2.Boyle, Bobbie with the SingersSanta Claus Goes Modern
3.Norris the Troubador, SeaboardChristmas Time Philosophy
4.Kent, Dick with the LancelotsA New Year's Dawning
5.Sisterhood, theThe Rocking Disco Santa Clau
6.Beard, Stan & the Swinging StrSnowbows
7.Boyle, Bobbiewith the Msr SingRandy. the Lil' Elf
8.Rogers, RoddMaury, the Christmas Mouse
9.Reed, Randall with the ForerunThe Peppermint Stick Man
10.Sisterhood, theChristmas Treat, Peppermint
11.Brown, KayDaddy, Is Santa Really Six F
12.Rodd & the LibrettosHow Do They Spend Christmas
13.Sisterhood, theOle Year Christmas
14.Gene MarshallEvelyn Christmas
15.Rodd & NitaJolly, Jolly Santa Claus
16.Cash, SonnyMerry Christmas Polka
17.Rodd & JudySanta Fix My Toys for Christ
18.Sisterhood, theBaby, It's a Cold Night in D
19.Rogers, Rod & the LibrettosSanta Claus Goes Modern
20.Stewart, Cara with Lee HudsonThe New Years Song
21.Summers, Teri & the LibrettosSeason's Greetings